Illuminated pictorial display mechanism

ABSTRACT

In illuminated display mechanisms the automation has heretofore consisted of automatic off-on switches controlling the illumination or sequential lighting of patterns of light bulbs or tubes which greatly restricts the number of displays which may be presented on a single surface. In this invention back or front illumination may be provided for a great number of pictures, signs or messages; the number being limited only by the duration of each display, the interval of time between each and the allowable size of the body of the mechanisms which may have one or several display faces depending on their size and shape. The pictures, signs or messages to be displayed are printed or painted full size on a band of translucent flexible material of suitable size which moves between two reversible terminal rolls appropriately located within the mechanism and to which the ends of the band are connected. Idler guide rollers are placed at each point at which a direction change of the translucent material occurs. During the change of displays the internal illumination is interrupted so that the actual change is not visible externally. The automatic driving mechanism, timing sequences, illumination control and movement reversal are all electrically operated and controlled and may be activated by self-contained built-in units or by remote control. This invention increases the number of displays available from each display unit, decreases the display change time and permits multifaced units with a minimum of mechanical or electrical addition or variation.

United States atent [1 1 Ralbowsky ILLUMINATED PICTORIAL DISPLAYMECHANISM [76] Inventor: Istvan Ralbowslry, 1265 Blvd.

dAuteuil, Laval, Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.:181,688

[52] 11.8. CI. 40/31, 40/52 R [51] Int. Cl. G09f 11/29 [58] Field ofSearch... 40/31, 33, 52 R, 53 R, 78.07,

Primary Examiner--Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Vance Y. l-IumAttorney, Agent, or FirmLarson, Taylor & Hinds 57 ABSTRACT Inilluminated display mechanisms the automation has heretofore consistedof automatic off-on switches controlling the illumination or sequentiallighting of patterns of light bulbs or tubes which greatly restricts thenumber of displays which may be presented on a sin gle surface. In thisinvention back or front illumination may be provided for a great numberof pictures, signs or messages; the number being limited only by theduration of each display, the interval of time between each and theallowable size of the body of the mechanisms which may have one orseveral display faces depending on their size and shape. The pictures,signs or messages to be displayed are printed or painted full size on aband of translucent flexible material of suitable size which movesbetween two reversible terminal rolls appropriately located within themechanism and to which the ends of the band are connected. Idler guiderollers are placed at each point at which a direction change of thetranslucent material occurs. During the change of displays the internalillumination is interrupted so that the actual change is not visibleexternally. The automatic driving mechanism, timing sequences,illumination control and movement reversal are all electrically operatedand controlled and may .be activated by self-contained built-in units orby remote control. This invention increases the number of displaysavailable from each display unit, decreases the display change time andpermits multifaced units with a minimum of mechanical or electricaladdition or variation.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANQQ m4 SHEU u u; 4

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Nu mt too ILLUMINATED PICTORIAL DISPLAY MECHANISM SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a display or sign board with one ormore display faces or windows on each of which the displayed material isautomatically changed.

Devices commonly used for similar purposes usually utilizesimultaneously rotating multi-sided blocks within the display frame andwhen the subject blocks attain proper positions an integral uniquedisplay is formed. The disadvantage of such display method is thelimited number of different frames which can be displayed and theinefficient usage of display time against the change-over time.

These disadvantages are overcome by the invention described herein, byassembling the matter to be dis played in a row of frames on aninternally rolled-up material. A driving mechanism is arranged in such away as to change the frames which appear on the display face or faces ofthe apparatus automatically in a predetermined sequence, governed by anadjustable timing mechanism.

In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line AA of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the driving mechanism FIG. 4 is aschematic wiring diagram.

The invention illustrated comprises of a welded frame 1 which supportsthe components and assemblies arranged within the device, a drive motor7 supported on a horizontal pivotal base 9, motor driven rolls 2 to holdthe material (PCB, FIG. 4) on which the display matter appears, idlerguide rollers 3 to position the material in relation to the rolls 2 andto the display window or rear closure of the apparatus if there is onlyone display window, idler guide rollers 15 to position the material atany point of direction change, a gear train assembly 10 operating rotaryswitches l6, l7 and 18 controlling movement and illumination cycles ofthe material and connecting to a power source, a motor timer II andmicroswitch 11a to restart each advance cycle and drive motor reversalmeans, contacts 8, and in FIG. 4, DCC l and DCC 2 and solenoids andsupporting framing 6. The sizes and shapes of the frame, the componentsand the assemblies may vary for each particular application and theframe may be replaced entirely by other supporting structures asapplications and installations may call for.

The display bearing material is carried on powered rolls 2 which aredriven by an electric motor 7 through a worm-drive. Electric powerenters the motor and lighting control circuit through the rotarycontinuous band switch 18 band 3 and passes through it to rotary bandswitches 17 and 16. The operation of the motor 7 is controlled bydriving mechanism composed of the geartrain comprising gears 20, 21 and19 and the rotary band switch 17 Band 2. When the sliding contact ofswitch 17 Band 2 reaches the non-conducting area, the driving motorstops and the conducting spot on rotary switch 16 Band 1 through theballast transformer I2 switches on the fluorescent illuminating lampassembly 14 supported on metal frame 13 and starts the timer motor I1controlling the microswitch 11a.

When the timer motor cam disc indentation permits the spring-loadedmicroswitch contact to close momentarily, the driving motor starts upand the display bearing material will start the advance-cycle againuntil a new frame is placed on the display window of the device. Duringthis time, the fluorescent tube is switched off by the opening of rotaryswitch 16 Band 1 thus the change is not readily visible to the viewer.

A narrow strip along the length of the bottom section of the displaybearing material is perforated. Into the perforations a gear wheel gear20 is engaged and is driven by the movement of the material. This servesas a governing device to determine the position of the dis' playedframes and through the reduction gear train, gears 21 and 19, itcontrols the positions of switches 16 Band 1 and 17 Band 2; thuscontrolling the starting and stopping of the driving motor 7 and thetimer motor I1 and the alternating periods of illumination and absencethereof. The reduction ratio is determined or fixed by the ratio betweenthe length from center to center of the frames carrying the material tobe displayed and the circumference of the gear on the shaft carryingswitches I6, 17 and 18.

When the band of material carrying the pictures, signs or messages hascompleted its movement in one direction, a direction reversing mechanismis triggered by a conducting strip (DCS) inserted through the materialnear one edge which completes a circuit as it passes between the twosurfaces of the appropriate pair of contacts 8 (DCC l or DCC 2)energizing the appropriate solenoid 5 (S1 or S2) connected to thepivotal base plate of the drive motor 7 which transfers the worm geardrive of motor 7 from one of the rolls 2 to the other, thus reversingthe movement of the band of translucent material. A snap spring 4 isattached to the top of the bar or lever connecting the solenoid unit tothe base plate of the drive motor 7 to retain the worm gear in firmcontact with the ring gear of one of the rolls 2.

With respect to FIG. 4, the components denoted therein are as follows.Motor 7 is represented by M and can be, for example, a belt drive motorusing 1 15 V AC, hertz, single phase electric power. Motor timer ll isdesignated TM and lamp assembly 14 is designated FT." Terminal boardsare designated TBA and TBB" and a ballast transformer, connected to lampassembly 14, is designated BT."

The embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings isself-contained and has a manually operated switch to the power sourceand in general mechanical controls for start up and shut down but withinthe scope of my invention the switch may be replaced by an automatictimer controlling unit and some of the controls by photo-electric unitsand in the case of the switch and all controls they may be replaced by,in whole or in part, a master control situate in, or by equivalentselectronically or otherwise operated from, a central control.

The embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings has only a singledisplay window but within the scope of my invention other embodimentsmay have two or more such windows by appropriate changes where requiredin the framing structure in the number and location of the guide andpositioning rollers, in the location of the drive motor and solenoiddirection control, in the location of the powered rolls and in the geartrain ratios and, if necessary, by the addition of one or more sourcesof illumination.

The embodiment shown also contemplates horizontal movement of thematerial carrying the display matter and a rectangular display windowbut without depart ing from the scope of my invention movement in otherdirections and variations in the size and shapes of the display windowsmay be provided.

Furthermore if a three dimensional effect is desired several bands oftranslucent material may be inserted in the apparatus of my invention oninterconnected powered rolls and in spaced relationship.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the band of materialcarrying the pictorial or reading matter is a film or other translucentmaterial and is back lighted but if the use of opaque material isdesired or required, this may be done by merely replacing the interioror back lighting of the material by suitably located front lightingwithout any other change being required.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A self contained automatically operable mechanism for continuouslydisplaying a plurality of units of indicia such as pictorial and readingmatter to the public, said mechanism comprising:

a. a housing having at least one viewing window;

b. first and second reversible power driven rolls rotatably mountedinside said housing;

c. a single electric drive motor for alternately driving said powerdriven rolls;

d. mounting means for pivotabley mounting said drive motor to saidhousing;

e. coupling means for selectively alternately coupling said drive motorto one of said power driven rolls, said coupling means comprising asingle worm gear assembly rotated by said drive motor;

f. a wide band of translucent flexible material end connected at a firstend to one of said power driven rolls and end connected at the other endto the other of said power driven rolls, said band bearing the indiciathereon and having perforations along one edge thereof;

g. means for retaining said band in spaced relationship to said at leastone viewing window and for guiding the movement of said band within saidhousing from one of said power driven rolls to the other of said powerdriven rolls;

h. means for engaging said coupling means to one of said power drivenrolls, said engaging means comprising two opposite acting solenoids, anelectric circuit for selectively energizing one of said solenoids andincluding first and second switch means, a cylindrical slug constrainedto move axially into the energized one of said solenoids, a connectingmember connecting said slug to said coupling means, and spring means forretaining said coupling means in firm engagement with the selected oneof said power driven rolls;

i. means attached along the length of said band and movable with saidband for actuating the one of said switch means which said means hasbeen moved into contact with by the movement of said band;

j. electrically powered illumination means for providing alternatingperiods of illumination and nonillumination of the areas of said bandappearing in said at least one viewing window k. third switch means forselectively energizing said drive motor for moving said band so as tolocate a unit thereof in the field of said at least one viewing windowand de-energizing said drive motor for suspending the movement of saidband for a predetermined fixed period of time and for synchronizing theillumination of said band and said fixed period of time the movement ofsaid band is suspended, said switch means comprising 1. a sprocket wheelmounted on a shaft and in engagement with the perforations of said band,said sprocket wheel being rotated by the movement of said band, 2. agear train driven by the shaft of said sprocket wheel, and 3. bandswitch means rotationally driven by said gear train for selectivelysuppling electrical power to said drive motor and said illuminationmeans, said band switch means comprising a cylindrical base, said baseincluding a first circumferential band having an electrically conductivearea extending completely around the circumference thereof, a secondcircumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas,the first area consisting of an electrically conductive area extendingsubstantially around the circumference thereof and the second areaconsisting of a nonconductive area abutting the conductive area, and athird circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensiveareas, the first area consisting of a nonconductive area extendingsubstantially around the circumference thereof and the second areaconsisting of a conductive area abutting the nonconductive area, thenonconductive area of said third band subtending substantially the sameangular are as the conductive area of said second band, said band switchmeans further comprising a first sliding contact in electrical contactwith said first band for supplying electrical power thereto, firstconductive means for electrically connecting said first band to theconductive areas of said second band and said third band, secondconductor means for electrically connecting said second sliding contactto said drive motor for the normal intermittant energization andde-energization thereof, a third sliding contact in electrical contactwith said third band, and third conductor means for electricallyconnecting said third sliding contact to said illumination means,whereby said third switch means is operatively driven by the movement ofsaid band of flexible material; and l. fourth switch means forre-energizing said drive motor, said fourth switch means comprising asecond electric motor, a microswitch and means for connecting saidmicroswitch to said second motor for the operation of said microswitchfor supplying electrical power to said drive motor independently of saidthird switch means, said microswitch being operated so as to energizesaid drive motor for a sufficient time period so as to permit theresultant movement of said band of flexible material to operate saidgear train for a time period sufficient to rotate said band switch meansfor the normal energizing of said drive motor.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switch actuating meanscomprises first and second short strips of conductive material attachednear the edge of said band near the respective said first and other endstherof and wherein said first switch means comprises a pair of contactsoppositely mounted near said first power driven roll for engagement withsaid band therebetween and said second switch means comprises a pair ofcontacts oppositely mounted near said second power driven roll forengagement with said band therebetween whereby the passage of said firstinbetween said power driven rolls.

1. A self contained automatically operable mechanism for continuouslydisplaying a plurality of units of indicia such as pictorial and readingmatter to the public, said mechanism comprising: a. a housing having atleast one viewing window; b. first and second reversible power drivenrolls rotatably mounted inside said housing; c. a single electric drivemotor for alternately driving said power driven rolls; d. mounting meansfor pivotabley mounting said drive motor to said housing; e. couplingmeans for selectively alternately coupling said drive motor to one ofsaid power driven rolls, said coupling means comprising a single wormgear assembly rotated by said drive motor; f. a wide band of translucentflexible material end connected at a first end to one of said powerdriven rolls and end connected at the other end to the other of saidpower driven rolls, said band bearing the indicia thereon and havingperforations along one edge thereof; g. means for retaining said band inspaced relationship to said at least one viewing window and for guidingthe movement of said band within said housing from one of said powerdriven rolls to the other of said power driven rolls; h. means forengaging said coupling means to one of said power driven rolls, saidengaging means comprising two opposite acting solenoids, an electriccircuit for selectively energizing one of said solenoids and includingfirst and second switch means, a cylindrical slug constrained to moveaxially into the energized one of said solenoids, a connecting memberconnecting said slug to said coupling means, and spring means forretaining said coupling means in firm engagement with the selected oneof said power driven rolls; i. means attached along the length of saidband and movable with said band for actuating the one of said switchmeans which said means has been moved into contact with by the movementof said band; j. electrically powered illumination means for providingalternating periods of illumination and non-illumination of the areas ofsaid band appearing in said at Least one viewing window k. third switchmeans for selectively energizing said drive motor for moving said bandso as to locate a unit thereof in the field of said at least one viewingwindow and de-energizing said drive motor for suspending the movement ofsaid band for a predetermined fixed period of time and for synchronizingthe illumination of said band and said fixed period of time the movementof said band is suspended, said switch means comprising
 1. a sprocketwheel mounted on a shaft and in engagement with the perforations of saidband, said sprocket wheel being rotated by the movement of said band, 2.a gear train driven by the shaft of said sprocket wheel, and
 3. bandswitch means rotationally driven by said gear train for selectivelysuppling electrical power to said drive motor and said illuminationmeans, said band switch means comprising a cylindrical base, said baseincluding a first circumferential band having an electrically conductivearea extending completely around the circumference thereof, a secondcircumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas,the first area consisting of an electrically conductive area extendingsubstantially around the circumference thereof and the second areaconsisting of a nonconductive area abutting the conductive area, and athird circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensiveareas, the first area consisting of a nonconductive area extendingsubstantially around the circumference thereof and the second areaconsisting of a conductive area abutting the nonconductive area, thenonconductive area of said third band subtending substantially the sameangular arc as the conductive area of said second band, said band switchmeans further comprising a first sliding contact in electrical contactwith said first band for supplying electrical power thereto, firstconductive means for electrically connecting said first band to theconductive areas of said second band and said third band, secondconductor means for electrically connecting said second sliding contactto said drive motor for the normal intermittant energization andde-energization thereof, a third sliding contact in electrical contactwith said third band, and third conductor means for electricallyconnecting said third sliding contact to said illumination means,whereby said third switch means is operatively driven by the movement ofsaid band of flexible material; and
 1. fourth switch means forre-energizing said drive motor, said fourth switch means comprising asecond electric motor, a microswitch and means for connecting saidmicroswitch to said second motor for the operation of said microswitchfor supplying electrical power to said drive motor independently of saidthird switch means, said microswitch being operated so as to energizesaid drive motor for a sufficient time period so as to permit theresultant movement of said band of flexible material to operate saidgear train for a time period sufficient to rotate said band switch meansfor the normal energizing of said drive motor.
 2. a gear train driven bythe shaft of said sprocket wheel, and
 2. A mechanism as claimed in claim1 wherein said switch actuating means comprises first and second shortstrips of conductive material attached near the edge of said band nearthe respective said first and other ends therof and wherein said firstswitch means comprises a pair of contacts oppositely mounted near saidfirst power driven roll for engagement with said band therebetween andsaid second switch means comprises a pair of contacts oppositely mountednear said second power driven roll for engagement with said bandtherebetween whereby the passage of said first and second stripsrespectively through said first and second switch means respectivelyenergizes the corresponding solenoid and thereby shifts the engagementof said coupling means to the other power driven roll.
 3. A mechanism asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said housing has a substantially rectangularcross-section taken along the lengTh thereof, said power driven rollsare pivotably mounted at one end of said housing, one power driven rollbeing mounted above the other, and said drive motor mounting means islocated at said one end of said housing, said worm gear assemblyextending inbetween said power driven rolls.
 3. band switch meansrotationally driven by said gear train for selectively supplingelectrical power to said drive motor and said illumination means, saidband switch means comprising a cylindrical base, said base including afirst circumferential band having an electrically conductive areaextending completely around the circumference thereof, a secondcircumferential band consisting of first and second coextensive areas,the first area consisting of an electrically conductive area extendingsubstantially around the circumference thereof and the second areaconsisting of a nonconductive area abutting the conductive area, and athird circumferential band consisting of first and second coextensiveareas, the first area consisting of a nonconductive area extendingsubstantially around the circumference thereof and the second areaconsisting of a conductive area abutting the nonconductive area, thenonconductive area of said third band subtending substantially the sameangular arc as the conductive area of said second band, said band switchmeans further comprising a first sliding contact in electrical contactwith said first band for supplying electrical power thereto, firstconductive means for electrically connecting said first band to theconductive areas of said second band and said third band, secondconductor means for electrically connecting said second sliding contactto said drive motor for the normal intermittant energization andde-energization thereof, a third sliding contact in electrical contactwith said third band, and third conductor means for electricallyconnecting said third sliding contact to said illumination means,whereby said third switch means is operatively driven by the movement ofsaid band of flexible material; and